ESPN2 HD to debut Jan. 6, 2005

ESPN will debut ESPN2 HD, the sports network’s second high-definition sports service on Jan. 6, 2005.

ESPN HD and ESPN2 will distribute 85 live, high-definition telecasts in the first 85 days of joint operation. The HD coverage will include college football, plus men’s and women’s college basketball, originally produced and distributed in HD.

Together in 2005, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will deliver 300 major events and 2000 programs totaling 6000 hours in high-definition.

All high-definition programming on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will be delivered to cable systems and satellite providers in the 720p high-definition format.

Starting January 6, 2005, sports fans will be able to watch a new high-definition sports service, ESPN2 HD. ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will distribute 85 live HD telecasts in the first 85 days of their joint effort. By the end of 2005, both sports channels are expected to deliver 6,000 hours of HD programming. ESPN2 HD wil

NBC-- which currently broadcasts 90 percent of its scripted programming in 1080i HD--is upgrading the rest of its late-night lineup to high-def. In April, the HD conversion is expected to begin, with "Late Night with Conan O'Brian" kicking off the HD switch. In fall, "Saturday Night Live" will premiere in HD as well

The end of December was a busy period for the International Bureau of the FCC. Here is a summary of the Bureau's actions and applications received related to satellite stations. DirecTV Enterprises was granted special temporary authority (STA) to operate DirecTV 1 at the 101 degree West Longitude (WL) location with